[Kate King]

Pure agony. I dread mornings these days, not because it is a new day, but because I have to take a shower. I loath showers. Not always, but this is the way the depression is manifesting itself right now. It is so embarrassing. Don't get me wrong, I still take them, but it takes everything I have in me to get into that stupid shower! I feel disgusting and pathetic for this. Am I alone? What should I do (other than "acting opposite" and take them).

[krisakira]

When I'm depressed showers go out the window. It got so bad that I was showering once a week. This is because I always thought of it as a huge chore that would require lots of energy. I am an obese person and it makes it even harder, especially to dry off. But now I have positive generalizations about showering. I have a bright lamp I put in there to make it very light in there, which some reason I enjoy. I think about how nice and warm it will make me (I have trouble with being cold all the time) and for drying off, I air dry some of the way, so it's not a huge chore. I still sometimes go 3 days without showering, but it's a lot better than once a week. Try to think of something positive about showering.

[Kate King]

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I never thought of switching up the "norm" and doing something different. I love the idea of getting a bright light in there, our bathroom is so dark. Also, I guess I need to start looking at the positive side of things a little more. Like, actually putting lotion on is the death of me! Not because I don't need it- I do! My skin gets so dry and flaky if I don't. But seriously, you would think someone is holding me a gunpoint, I just cannot bring myself to do it. Then I feel like a have completely failed at life, even though I just took a shower! I told myself today actually that it's ok if I don't put lotion on. Yes, my skin will be really dry, but at least I am clean. I didn't feel like as much of a failure but still, come on! I just want the little things in life to be easy, not HUGE mountains I have to climb over everyday.

[winter4me]

My favorite showers are done with candlelight, scented preferably, and slowly---just sitting under...then one things at a time---I lotion before getting in as my skin gets really dry winters----But I notice that when I am down, I do it less often and stay in shorter periods of time. (I lived for years 'off the grid' with bucket showers, so I guess having water that doesn't run out is still a treat at times (but then, I feel guilty wasting it)----I do notice that when the depression is bad, I don't feel really "clean" after the shower and that is troublesome--- I am a small person and like to curl up fetal position in the bottom of the tub...I do like the warmth.

[krisakira]

Originally Posted by Kate King

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I never thought of switching up the "norm" and doing something different. I love the idea of getting a bright light in there, our bathroom is so dark. Also, I guess I need to start looking at the positive side of things a little more. Like, actually putting lotion on is the death of me! Not because I don't need it- I do! My skin gets so dry and flaky if I don't. But seriously, you would think someone is holding me a gunpoint, I just cannot bring myself to do it. Then I feel like a have completely failed at life, even though I just took a shower! I told myself today actually that it's ok if I don't put lotion on. Yes, my skin will be really dry, but at least I am clean. I didn't feel like as much of a failure but still, come on! I just want the little things in life to be easy, not HUGE mountains I have to climb over everyday.

Yeah, don't think about the lotion while you are trying to get yourself to take a shower. If you feel ok to do it afterwards, good for you, but if you don't- it's not the end of the world. Eliminate those negative generalizations and think of it as something you can really enjoy.

[nicole84]

My depression has had me like this recently too. Had the first shower today in 3 days, I normally shower daily but it just seems like so much effort. I still manage to moisturise and use deodorant but that damn shower is such a task. And then I tell the doc that I managed a shower and they just look at me like it's disgusting not taking them.

I think it's a pretty common thing. Depression makes EVERYTHING so much harder.

[shortandcute]

I've been cutting back on my showers too lately.

[Silent Void]

Originally Posted by krisakira

When I'm depressed showers go out the window. It got so bad that I was showering once a week. This is because I always thought of it as a huge chore that would require lots of energy. I am an obese person and it makes it even harder, especially to dry off. But now I have positive generalizations about showering. I have a bright lamp I put in there to make it very light in there, which some reason I enjoy. I think about how nice and warm it will make me (I have trouble with being cold all the time) and for drying off, I air dry some of the way, so it's not a huge chore. I still sometimes go 3 days without showering, but it's a lot better than once a week. Try to think of something positive about showering.

More light. Good tip.

[WhatItIs]

I don't have the showering issue, but when I'm depressed I don't want to wash my hair because it takes too much effort (i'll just pull it up when I shower). I've actually met a couple of other women who have also said this.

[onlytime]

I'm SO relieved to read this. I seriously thought I was the only one who has a hard time getting in the shower and was so ashamed. I don't have anything helpful to say - I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone and that your post was really helpful for me.

Hang in there!

[wildflowerchild25]

i've never done that because my mom used to do that and I just can't. no matter how depressed I am i make sure my hair is washed at the very least. BUT i can relate to simple things seeming monumental. It took me ages to eat one chicken leg for dinner today and I almost gave up halfway through because it was too much effort to get the meat off the bone! But what I can say is celebrate your accomplishment. It sounds dumb because "normal" people don't have to celebrate a shower, but allowing yourself to feel proud of doing something simple might really help. I felt better yesterday after I forced myself to make dinner.

Be proud of climbing your mountains! I hope we'll be stronger in the end since everyone else just has to walk over those flimsy old hills :-p

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by WhatItIs

I don't have the showering issue, but when I'm depressed I don't want to wash my hair because it takes too much effort (i'll just pull it up when I shower). I've actually met a couple of other women who have also said this.

I do this. I have a lot of hair and I basically take full showers, with hairwashing, from time to time, and half showers without hair washing, more frequently.

Frequent washing damages hair so you should not feel bad about lapsing.

[Kate King]

Thanks everyone. It's nice to know that I am not alone in this. I was feeling pretty crazy for struggling so much.

[Nobodyandnothing]

It is agony for me too. I hate being touched and showers seem like endless touching. Told this to pdoc yesterday and he looked at me like I was off my rocker.

[mimi2112]

thanks for posting. this has been a chore for me too, and then recently i have had a dry itchy skin issue after bathing too, so it is even more of a chore to moisturize. this is the first time i have ever talked about it, but it is nice to know i am not alone.

i don't like showers much either.

partly because of how i feel, and partly because.. well i never have reason too.

i mean- what's the point in showering, then straight after just going back to bed and doing nothing?

sure i'll shower if someone is coming over, or i'm having 1 of my better days, but it's not top priority for me. not by a long shot

[Kate King]

NobodyandNothing- haha, it's amazing how someone in a professional field like that can be so ignorant!

[Silent Void]

Originally Posted by krisakira

When I'm depressed showers go out the window. It got so bad that I was showering once a week. This is because I always thought of it as a huge chore that would require lots of energy. I am an obese person and it makes it even harder, especially to dry off. But now I have positive generalizations about showering. I have a bright lamp I put in there to make it very light in there, which some reason I enjoy. I think about how nice and warm it will make me (I have trouble with being cold all the time) and for drying off, I air dry some of the way, so it's not a huge chore. I still sometimes go 3 days without showering, but it's a lot better than once a week. Try to think of something positive about showering.

More light in the bath. Good tip. Never thought of that.

[Bmee2]

Oh my goodness! i really thought i was alone. This was not always a difficult task but lately it has become one. For me it is the taking off of the clothes. The site of this body is so repulsive to me, that i do not want to see it.
i try to focus on the smell of the soap and the hot water. Once i am in the shower all is well. So i do my best not to think about doing it. i just all of a sudden do it. i do not wash my hair daily as i have extremely dry scalp and very thick hair. i do not have two hours every day to tackle my hair. Twice a week is what i do. In the summer i shower more...twice a day or more.
Thank you everyone for sharing. i too really thought i was alone and i was too ashamed to share. Thank you very much.

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((Kate king )))))))
I have complete empathy for you on this issue. I don't like showers either

[Kate King]

It is so nice to know that I am not alone in feeling this way. I feel so disgusting, but I just cannot bring myself to do it everyday. Thanks for all the responses. I guess we will all just keep on trekking through together

[yellowted]

even when i am not depressed i hate showers, hate the water in my face. hate the way it is cold by it gets halfway down your back, hate the fact you have to wear a plastic bag on your head if you don't want your hair washing....yep i much prefer a hot steaming bath any day!

I hate showers too. Because taking one makes me feel disgusting. I only take them if I already feel more disgusting than the shower is going to make me feel. I also feel very weak after I take a shower, so it can ruin my whole day if I'm not careful. That and it makes my hair look worse and I've been told that my hair looks much better if I don't wash it more than once or twice a week.

I don't understand why our culture is so obsessed with constantly bathing. It's actually really unhealthy to bathe everyday if you have dry skin/hair. And it wastes tons of water that we're almost completely out of (well, where I live anyway).

My point: You're not "disgusting" if you don't want to take a shower every single day.

[mimi2112]

Originally Posted by I.Am.The.End.

I hate showers too. Because taking one makes me feel disgusting. I only take them if I already feel more disgusting than the shower is going to make me feel. I also feel very weak after I take a shower, so it can ruin my whole day if I'm not careful. That and it makes my hair look worse and I've been told that my hair looks much better if I don't wash it more than once or twice a week.

I don't understand why our culture is so obsessed with constantly bathing. It's actually really unhealthy to bathe everyday if you have dry skin/hair. And it wastes tons of water that we're almost completely out of (well, where I live anyway). in the old days, people didn't bathe like they do now, and we americans i think, are way too obsessed.

My point: You're not "disgusting" if you don't want to take a shower every single day.

what is also interesting is that we wash away and then cover up our natural pheromones with soap and perfume. personally i prefer a man who isn't overly washed and cologned. i want him to smell like a man!

as for me, i want to look forward to bathing, and when i am down it is just a chore.

hey everyone, i didn't shower today!

[Vossie42]

I hate showering, too. It doesn't wake me up, nor does it relax me. It doesn't even get rid of all the armpit odor no matter what soap I use. Grrr!!!